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]J. S. GOVERNMENT CAHiPAIGN PLAN 
for 

WARTIME FOREST FIRS PREVENTION 
for 1943 


Prepared by the 

U. S* Department of Agriculture 
Forest Service, 
in cooperation with the 
Bureau of Campaigns 
Office of War Information 



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I. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 1 

The overall problem 1 

Major elements of the over-all problem 1 

1. Forest fires 1 

A* Number, area burned, damage 1 

B. Man-made forest fires 1 

C. Man-power to fight forest fires 2 

2. Forest fires sabotage the war effort 2 

A. Timber is damaged 2 

Bo Production of lumber is’ slowed down 2 

C. Threat to war industries and food 

for freedom 2 

D. The President has said 2 

E. Lt • Gen. John L. DeWitt says 2 

F. According to Lt. Gen. H. A. Drum 3 

G. Flying hours are lost 3 

Ho Anti-aircraft training interrupted 3 

I. Enemy fires 3 


3. Geographical aspects of the wartime forest 
fire'prevention problem 
A. Throe broad zones 

3* Highlights by Forest Service regions 
C. Forest fire seasons 


II * ORGANIZED FOREST FIRE PREVENTION 6 

1# On the national forests 6 

2. On state and privately owned forest land 6 

3. The work of preventing forest fires 6 

III. OBJECTIVES OF THE CAMPAIGN 7 

j 1* What the public as a whole should do 7 

j 2* Groups of the public to be influenced 7 

(a) Broadly 7 

(b) Major avocational and occupational groups 7 

3. Specific things the groups should be asked to do 8 


IV. COPY THEME 


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I. STATEMENT OF THE PR03LEM 


T he, jver-all problem, in a nutshell, is to: 

REDUCE THE NUMBER OF MAN-MADE FOREST FIRES 
THAT ARE STARTED CARELESSLY AND INTENTIONALLY. 

. Major elements of the over-all problen include: 

1.. Forest fires 

A. Number, area burned, damage 

Each year the United States has from 140,000 to 220,000 forest fires. 

In one of the biggest forest fires (Tillamook, Oregon, in August of 
1933), 267,000 acres - two-thirds being virgin timber - were burned 
over, and enough trees to build 800,000 five-^room frame homes were 
killed. Figuring 4 people per home, 800,000 homes would have housed 
the entire populations (1940 census) of the following 10 cities: 
Portland, Oreg.; Oakland, Calif.; Denver, Colo.; Omaha, Nebr.; Columbus, 
Ohio; St. Paul, Minn,; Memphis, Tenn.; Ft. Worth, Tex.; Atlanta, Ga.; 
and Boston, Mass. . 

Fire in forests (including farm woodlands, which are 40 percent of all 
privately owned commercially valuable forest land) is therefore a 
factor which must be reckoned with Nation-wide. 

National averages of the number of forest fires, area burned, and 
damage, over the 5-year period 1936-40, are: 

- 2lt)-,9?0 forest' fires per year- 

31,233,000 abres burned per year - almost as many acres 
as there are in New York State % 

' - — $37,£3L-,000 in damage, per year. 

B. Man-made forest fires *.-4. ... ...... 

90$ -of all forest- fires, ara man-made (10$ are lightning fires) 

30$ of all forest fires are’ started by oareless smokers and’ * 
campers % . A 

' 40$ of all forest fires ARE INTENTIONALLY SET 

... - . <->; -• r • ' : t ■ *'• ■ ' f ' ■ * ' r 

* (a) for.purposes like clearing plow-land, burning off 

logging Slash and other brush or debris (many ff 


(Over) 








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these fires are started lawfully, but get out of 
hand because of. carelessness or ignorance or 
' willingness'to ’’take - a Chan6e ,r ), v and 

.■•nh i’T f5 <•) 

'(b) bv Incendiaries.. 

C. Man-power to fight forest fires (estimates based on reliable 

' ■ •'./ no ,. " • ;.~;vo Tr * rrx 7 '. ~To basic data) ■ ■ ( c y . ... • V u""' ,. 

.. ’ 1* • ' n:' ; - - v,r r. ' r,; ; e H-, w: n. ;: - ; r 

For all' fires in one '(the’average) year 
. 970,000 man-days 

For all fires in the whole five-year period 
1,403,000 man-days 

2« Forest fires sabotage the war effort 

A* Timber , a critical war material according to W.P.B.’s Donald 
Nelson,' is damaged and destroyed by forest fires. 

B. Production, of lumber for 1942, estimated to be 6 billion feet, 
board measure, below requirements for that year, is slowed down every 
time woods and mill crews - already affected in the Pacific Northwest 
by a partial freeze order issued by the’War Manpower Commission - 
must fight fires. 

Gy Forest fires- are real and potential threats (l) to plants, equip¬ 
ment, etc., of war industries, cantonments, etc., many of which are 
located in and near forest, woodland, and brush-covered areas; (2) to 
the efficiency of defensive air and sea patrols, training of air 
pilots, etc.; (3) to the diversion of man-power from war industries, 
training camps, and farms to the fighting of forest and farm woodland 
fires. 

D. In a January 1942 budget messago the President said 

"It is part of our war effort ... to ... maintain 
fire protection in our forests." 

E. Lt. Gen. John L. DeWitt , Headquarters, Western Defense Command, 
has listed 12 reasons why every patriotic citizen should look on 
helping to prevent forest fires as unessential war-time duty. Among 
them: ’ 

Smoke-palls from' forest fires along coastal areas limit 
visibility for defensive air and sea patrols and invite 
off-shore operations by the enemy. 


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Smoke haze reduces visibility from aircraft warning 
stations and fire lookouts. 

Many defense plants and military establishments are 
located in or adjacent to forest areas and might be 
damaged or destroyed by major conflagrations. 

Forest fires serve as beacons for the enemy. 

F, According to Lt. Gen, H, A. Drum , Headquarters, Eastern Defense 
Command, 

"Protection of our forests is one of the most important duties 
a citizen may perform in time of war. Wood like oil is 
essential to our war machine. Forest fires destroy a price¬ 
less source of raw materials and also serve the enemy by 
endangering vital installations. In protecting our forests 
in time of war we preserve a national heritage for the days 
of peace." 

G, Because of smoke from forest fires ’at least 10,000 flying hours 
were lost at one airplane training school near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 
in 1941, the chief pilot there has estimated. 

H. Anti-aircraft training at Camp Davis,’North Carolina, is said to 
have been seriously interrupted (during the spring of 1942) by nearby 
forest fires, and in a number of instances trainees were used to combat 
those fires. 

I. Secretary of Agriculture Wickard says " Until we smash the Axis 
every man-made forest fire is an enemy fire ." 

3. Geographical aspects of the 
wartime forest fire prevention problem 

A. Three broad zones . After bringing war industry and national defense 
angles of the forest fire prevention problem very definitely into, the 
picture, the United States has been divided into three broad zones, 
aach of which has been weighted to indicate relative importance. 

As indicated on the map - which a],so shows Forest Service administrative 
regions - which follows page 4 

Zone I , with relative importance 60, includes (a.) 3 Pacific Coast 
States plus western Montana and northwestern Idaho; (b) 
most of the 3 Great Lakes States; (c) a strip 100-150 miles 
wide along the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. 


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Zcne II , with relative importance 30, includes (a) the area lying 
east of 'Zone 1 and west of the Great Plains States; (b) 
the area lying between the Great Plains States and the 
Atlantic Coast-Gulf of Mexico part of Zone 1. 

Zone III , with relative importance 10, includes parts of Montana 
and Minnesota, and all or parts of the Great Plains States 
of North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, 
Oklahoma, and Texas. 

B. Highlights by Forest Service Regions . Major highlights of the war¬ 
time forest fire prevention problem by Forest Service Regions (see map 
for boundaries of regions) include: 

Region 1 : Montana and northern Idaho. White pine timber important, 
with fires (90 percent lightning) doing heavy damage. Resident problem 
more important than visitor problem. Appeal for care with smoking, 
clearing land, and burning logging slash and debris. 

Region 2 : Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas. Man- 
caused fires total 34 percent. Visitor problem probably more important 
than resident one, with carelessness more of a factor than intentional. 
Appeal -.care by smoker and camper. 

Region 3 : Arizona, New Mexico. Less fire problem than any other 
Region. Appeal to careless smoker and camper. 

Region 4 : Utah, Nevada, most of Idaho. Man-caused fires run from 17 
to 57 percent, varying 'vdth locality. Appeal to careless smokers, 
logging operators, campers,land-clearing farmers and ranchers. Fires 
often cause serious erosion and widespread problems in many localities. 
Grass fires important. 

Region 5 : California. Man-caused fires 73*7 percent of total. Big 
influx of war workers, but residents causing more fires than newcomers. 
Appeal should be to smokers, ranchers clearing land, burning brush on 
logging operations, and incendiaries. Forest fires may help enemy 
foreps to orient themselves. 

'* 

Region 6 : Oregon, Washington. Careless smokers, etc., cause the most 
forest fires, but forest industries (with incendiaries a close second) 
cause biggest area burned, and damage. Appeal mainly to local residents 
and industries to take no chances with fire, to help prevent smoke from 
interfering with discovery of enemy bombers, etc. Forest fires may 
help enemy forces to orient themselves. 

Region 7 ; New England and Middle Atlantic States plus Maryland, West 
Virginia, and Virginia. Again the local resident, and the smoker, 
mainly. Also the farmer who burns to clear land, and the incendiary. 
Forest fires help reveal ships to enemy submarines. 


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Region 8 : The South, from North Carolina south and west to and in¬ 
cluding Texas. The*,intentional ’burner - who has believed in burning 
for years - is the biggest problem. He is the local resident, not the 
visitor, the white man rather than the negro. Appeal to patriotism; 
smoke interfering with aircraft warning service, etc. Forest fires 
help reveal ships to enemy submarines. 

Region 9 ; The Great Lakes States, North Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, 
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio. Widely "diverse conditions with large number 
of fires and big acreage burned. Ninety-seven percent of all fires 
man-caused. In order of importance, the smoker, the incendiary, the 
debris burner. Best appeal probably the patriotic one. Local people 
know that man-power for war production is a real problem. 

C. Forest fire seasons . Dates on which, in average years. Regional 
Foresters believe the WARTIME FOREST FIRE PREVENTION campaign should 
start, peak, and close in their regions are: 


Region 1: 

One season; to start June 1, peak August 1, end September 15. 

Region 2: 

One season; to start June 1, peak August 1, end September 15. 

Region 3: 

One season; to start April 15, peak June 1, end July 15. 

Region ki 

One season; to start June 1, peak August 1, end September 15. 

Region 5: 

Two seasons: 

Southern California to start March 1, peak August 1, 
end October 30. 

Central and northem California to start May 1, peak 

July 1, end October 1. 

Region 6: 

One season; to start March 1, peak August 1, end September 30 

Region ?: 

Two seasons - spring (major) and fall (minor). 

Spring season to start February 15, peak March 15, end 

April'30. 

Fall season to start September 1, peak October 1, end 
November 15. 

Region S: 

One season: to start October 15, peak January 15, close 

March 15. 

Region 9: 

Four seasons, including spring (or major) and fall (or minor) 
in Great Lakes States, and spring (or major) and fall (or 
minor) in southern part of region as follows: 

Lake States, in spring - April 15 to May 31 

Southern part in spring - February 15 to May 1 

Lake States in fall - August 1 to September 30 

Southern part in fall - September 15 to December 1. 


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Region 10 (Alaska ): One season; start March 1* peak August 1, end 
September 1. 

II. ORGANIZED 

FOREST FIRE PREVENTION 

1. On the national forests 


160'of them, with about 173,000,000 federally owned acres in 42 States 
and 2 Territories. Under 10 Regional Foresters (1 in Alaska) and 
their staffs, national forests are protected from fire, etc., by a 
decentralized organization in close and constant touch with local con¬ 
ditions, problems, people, etc., of about 4,000 year-long forest super¬ 
visors, forest rangers, forest guards, etc., and another 4,000 short¬ 
term smokechasers, lookouts, etc. (sea preceding map). 

2. On State and privately owned forest land 

On 231,000,000 acres■ cfState but mainly privately owned forest land, 
Federal aid (through the Forest Service) goes to 41 States to help 
State Foresters and (through them) private owners give organized co¬ 
operative forest fire protection. (State and private funds total more 
than Federal.) But there are 146,000,000 acres still lacking but 
needing (funds and) forest fire protection. 

3. The work of preventing forest fires 

With Federal and State governments it has been by way of regional. 
State-wide, and local educational efforts through newspapers, radio 
stations, motion picture theaters, civic organizations, etc.; has • 
used exhibits, lectures^ pamphlets, admonitory signs; has involved 
the closing of many Federal and State-owned areas of high fire hazard 
to the public during unusually critical periods; has restricted to 
improved campgrounds canping in many Federal and State forest areas; 
has invoked State laws against starting forest fires and letting them 
spread, etc. 

Manyjjlocal efforts have indicated progress. Efforts by a number of 
States are very effective. One seems to be the M Keep Oregon Green 11 
campaign. It is financed in large part by private land owners, with 
encouragement and cooperation from Region 6 of the (Federal) Forest 
Service. But until 1942 there has never been a Nation-wide over-all 
campaign with a central theme to’ which local campaigns should be able 
to tie; one on which Regional Foresters, State Foresters, and private 
owners and operators (lumber, pulp and paper, turpentine, etc.) should 
be able to capitalize through local efforts aimed at local problems or 
local variations of Nation-wide problems. 


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III. OBJECTIVES 

I OF THE CAMPAIGN 

1. What the public as a whole should do 

Basically, above all else, and Nation-wide, the need is for the public 
to remember - and to tell others 

— to be careful with matches (and with cigarettes, pipe 
ashes, and campfires) 

— to help prevent incendiaries from starting forest fires 
to put out small forest fires 

— to report all forest fires to the nearest ranger or fire 
warden 

— and to remember that 11 Until we smash the Axis every man¬ 
made forest fire is an enemy fir e . !f 

2. Groups (of the public) to be influenced 


A. Broadly 

First : People who normally live in or near, or work in, forest areas. 
Second : Visitors - urban, rural, and from other forest areas. 

B. Major avocational and occupational groups : 

Smokers - including fishermen, hunters, and people travelling in 
trains, busses, and autos - who carelessly or thoughtlessly throw 
away matches, cigarettes, pipe ashes before they are dead out. 

Campers , who through carelessness or thoughtlessness leave without 
putting their campfires dead out. 

Forest industries and their workers that "take a chance" or are-careless 
or negligent with respect to (a) burning brush, etc., from logging 
operations, or (b) equipping or operating donkey engines, locomotive, 
etc,,'with spark arresters or other safety devices, or (c) putting out 
warming fires and lunch-fires. 

Farmers and ranchers who let land-clearing fires get away; who set 
fires to green up woodland pastures and forest ranges. 

Incendiaries , who start fires that, deliberately and maliciously started, 
do more damage, and are a greater menace to war industries and the war 
effort, than are other forest fires. 


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1608 


3. Specific things the groups should 

be asked to do 


Observe "no smoking" rules in forest, brush, and grass 
areas that are closed to smoking. 

Stop to smoke: - in safe places that are cleared of dry 
or inflammable materials. 

Put your match dead out before throwing it away. 

Crush out your cigarette stub'and pipe ashes; be sure - 
dead sure - they are also "cold" before throwing them 
away. 


Before building a campfire 

(1) Observe the State laws: If a permit is necessary, get 
it from a ranger or State fire warden. 

(2) Scrape away all inflammable material from a spot at least 
5 feet in diameter. 

(3) Dig a hole in the center, build your fire in it, and keep 
your fire small. 

Before leaving your campfire 

. (1) Stir the coals while soaking them with water. 

(2) Turn sticks and drench both sides. 

(3) Soak the ground around the fire, 
j (l) Be sure the last spark is dead. 

ii 

Forest industries 

Be smart ... be alert ... be careful. 

Build and maintain safe fire lines around mills, logging 
camps, etc. 

Keep efficient spark arresters on locomotives, tractors, 
etc. 


(1) 

( 2 ) 

(3) 


Smokers 

(1) 

( 2 ) 

(3) 

(4) 

Campers 


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508 


(4) Comply fully with State laws. 

(5) If you burn slash or debris - be safe rather than sorry. 

(6) *Keep fire patrols on the fire job - especially during 

dangerous fire weather. 

(7) Make frequent inspections for fire hazards. 

Farmers and ranchers 

Never burn to clear crop land 

(1) Without getting a permit from a ranger or fire warden, if 
State laws require it. 

(2) Without scraping a trail or plowing around for safety* 

(3) Without having plenty of help on the job. 

(4) Or during unusually hot or dry or windy weather. 


IV. COPY THEME 

1. Maintain the long-established and widely used admonitory theme 
PREVENT FOREST FIRES (but give grass and brush fires a place in copy, 
etc.) 

2. Tie this theme in with the war, and patriotism. 

3. Point it at man-made forest fires, and careless ones, but give 
recognition to fires that are intentionally set to clear plow land, 
burn logging slash, etc.; and thus provide points of departure for 
local campaigns aimed at forest fires started by farmers and ranchers, 
forest industries, etc. In order of importance, nationally (for regions, 
see Appendix A): Smokers; clearing land, etc., by farmers and ranchers; 
brush and debris burning by forest industries and others; incendiaries; 
campers. 

4. Provide for a carry-over from the 1942 campaign to that of 1943 (in 
reality, consider the 1943 campaign a continuation of the one for 1942 
with refinements, new window dressing, etc.). 

5. Bring the States into the copy. M Secure a permit to burn /brush/ 
from your State ranger or fire warden." "Report forest fires to the 
nearest Federal or State ranger or fire warden." 


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WART)ME FOREST FIRE PREVENTIO^: : :^ 
CAMPAIGN FOR 1943 

ZONE 1- RELATIVE IMPORTANCE 60 
ZONE 2- RELATIVE IMPORTANCE 30 
ZONE 3- RELATIVE IMPORTANCE 10 

NATIONAL FOREST REGIONAL BOUNDARIES 























































































































































































































































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